Michigan Justice Fund Marks Five Years of Transforming Criminal Legal Reform in Michigan

Marking its five-year anniversary, the Michigan Justice Fund (MJF), an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, is proud to announce $1.7 million dollars in new grants, the addition of two new funders—the McGregor Fund and the Navigation Fund—and a continued commitment to driving equity and justice across Michigan.

Since its inception in 2020, MJF has deployed more than $20 million dollars across the state stimulating the work of our grantee partners, strengthening the advocacy ecosystem, and fostering partnerships across sectors, including private, public, philanthropic, government, and grassroots advocates. Through its dynamic investment strategy, MJF has established itself as a national leader and a model for philanthropic efforts in criminal legal reform.  

MJF Provides $1.7 Million Dollars in Latest Round of Grants  

In December, MJF awarded over $1.7 million dollars to seven organizations through its Innovation in Re-Entry and Workforce Development Grant Program. These grants focus on scalable strategies across industries to enhance economic mobility and opportunities for people impacted by the criminal legal system.  

“We are thrilled about this latest round of grants and the opportunities they create to explore bold, imaginative approaches to justice reform in Michigan,” said Ashley Carter, Director of the Michigan Justice Fund. “These investments will create new pathways to opportunities across industries, among them healthcare, social enterprise, and access to housing. Together, we are cultivating meaningful systemic change that will inspire progress throughout the state and beyond.” 

The full list of grants include:  

• 70 x 7 Life Recovery: $220,000 for internal capacity building that will enhance its ability to provide reentry services through trauma-informed intake processes, updated IT systems, and improved leadership cohesion.  

• Mackinac Center: $206,000 for the efforts to address license and credential restrictions for system-involved individuals. 

• SER Metro-Detroit Jobs for Progress, Inc.: $330,000 for the expansion of a program that provides holistic services for women recently released from the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center and Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.  

• Southeast Michigan Community Alliance: $400,000 for the Fresh Start Workforce Initiative that strengthens partnerships in Monroe County to address reentry needs of system-involved individuals. 

• Trinity Health-Michigan Southeast: $389,138 for the Fair Chance Hiring Program that will create pathways for system-involved individuals into transitional jobs and direct-hire, as well as transform the Trinity Health hiring protocols for system-involved individuals. 

• We the People Opportunity Farm: $100,000 for the planning of a social enterprise café, fully operated and staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals.  

• West Central Michigan Employment & Training Consortium, Inc.: $100,000 for a Reclaiming Futures program with Michigan Works! West Central to serve juvenile lifers and individuals with maxed-out cases with reentry support. 

MJF Welcomes Two New Funders, McGregor Fund and The Navigation Fund 

The Michigan Justice Fund, a collaborative of 17 Michigan-based and national funders, focuses on reducing the state’s reliance on incarceration, promoting community-driven alternatives to public safety, and supporting the economic mobility of individuals with criminal records. 

Marking its fifth anniversary, MJF welcomes two new funders: the McGregor Fund and The Navigation Fund, whose combined investment of $1.25 million dollars bolsters the Fund’s mission and capacity. “We are honored to support the Michigan Justice Fund as it continues its vital work to transform the criminal legal system into one that is fair and equitable,” said Erin Keith, Program Officer at the Navigation Fund. “This investment reflects our dedication to ending mass incarceration by championing common-sense decarceration strategies and empowering communities to lead the creation of lasting solutions that foster genuine public safety and true access to justice.” 

As MJF moves into its fifth year, the work continues to catalyze collaboration and actionable change, cementing its role as a driving force in reimagining justice in Michigan.  

For more information about the Michigan Justice Fund, visit our website or read our 2023 annual report.